Rusty Rubin is a veteran boxing writer
What figured to be two of the more exciting fights upcoming were cancelled when two fighters tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.
All athletic commissions should enforce these laws. If the fighter can’t win legitimately, in the ring, without banned substances, he’s more of a coward than a fighter.
I personally have a zero tolerance policy towards anyone in boxing, or any sport, that has to resort to illegal drugs to win a fight. Heart and skill should be more than enough. All boxers take note, no one convicted of taking these banned drugs will ever get my vote for the Hall of Fame. I only wish other sportswriters would have the same courage.***
One major fight this weekend and it’s a tough one to predict.
The bout takes place in Nottingham, England between native born Carl Froch and Lucien Bute. The fight is for the IBF Super Middleweight title.
Bute a fast and smooth southpaw, originally from Romania and now fights out of Canada is two years younger and sports a 30-0 record with 24 coming via the knockout route.
Bute, 32, gives up two years in age, and three inches in reach, despite the fact that he faces Froch, who has a 3 inch reach advantage.
Froch, 34, has fought better foes, and has 20 knockouts in his 28 wins. He also has two losses, one to Andre Ward and the other to Mikkel Kessler.
It’s a hard fight to breakdown, but it’s hard to see how Bute can win except via a KO or TKO. Bute can punch but Froch has always shown a solid chin.
The fact that Bute is willing to take on Froch in his hometown says a lot about his confidence, but confidence doesn’t win fights, skill and power do.
All that being said I’ll take Bute by late stoppage.
Glove 2 Glove:
Prayers for the soul of solid boxing guys Ross Virgo 81, and personal friend and boxing inspector Greg Rice 78.
Prayers for Raul Rojas who passed away at the age of 70, he was a former WBA featherweight champion with ring record 38-7-2 / 24 by KO.
Prayers for the return to health of outstanding boxing guys Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos. Alex has done much to improve the welfare of retired boxers.
Tony Triem is also in need of your prayers, as is L.H. Dalton and Marilyn Johnson.
Please pray for my Aussie mate and Glove2Glove member John MacDougall, who had to deal with the recent passing of his wife of many years Gwen. John is also recovering from hip replacement surgery.
Also prayers for the recovery of outstanding referee Mills Lane and Denis Wilcox.
Please say prayers for Phill Grazide of Santa Rosa, CA. a big supporter of amateur boxing, who is suffering the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis.
Needless to say we need prayers for the return to health of former champ Gerald McClellan, who is confined to wheelchairs.
On behalf of these great fighters who have given their all in our great sport, we thank you for your ongoing prayers.
Do you know of any boxing people in need of spiritual uplifting and/or prayers? Just drop us a line. Membership is free to all and no one will ever contact you except for other prayer requests. Your name will not suddenly appear on anyone’s mailing list. In short, there is absolutely no obligation. Every prayer request is most welcome and I know the recipient will appreciate it.
Why? Because it’s healing to know that other people care, even about people they don’t know, and have the knowledge that God listens!
To join the Glove2Glove prayer group, or just request much needed prayers, drop Dave Wilcox a line at ubtdave@earthlink.net.
Glove2Glove, which has been a long-time integral part of the defunct Ringsports.com magazine and website. It is a program I wish to have continued a long after I have left the sport and this earth. I want to thank Dave and Deborah Wilcox, who have offered to take over the program and promised to continue it indefinitely. This generous offer means a lot to me. We always welcome new members.***
Thanks and God bless.***
Rusty Rubin, formerly the award winning managing editor of Ringsports.com as well as now defunct Nevada Boxing and Ringsports Magazine, is the author of three highly acclaimed boxing books! “Woozel, Boxing and Me”, “Off the Canvas” and “Billy Soose, the Champion Time Forgot” co-authored by Tom Donelson. These books are all available at Authorhouse.com, and all major book retailers. They are all more than worth the small purchase price, or contact me via this website for a personally autographed copy at a small extra shipping charge.
RUSTY WOULD LIKE TO URGE ALL HIS FRIENDS TO LIST THE FOLLOWING INFO ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE AS WELL AS YOUR E-MAIL. “HAVING BEEN BLESSED WITH SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE, I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO GET INVOLVED WITH NETWORKING, I’MJUST TOO DAMN OLD FOR THAT”.
HENCEFORTH, (or at least for the current quarter) ALL PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF ANY OR ALL OF THESE BOOKS WILL GO TO THE SUSAN G. KOMAN FOUNDATION, AND BE USED TO FIND A CURE FOR BREAST CANCER. . I ALSO CHALLENGE ALL OTHER JOURNALISTS, BOXING OR OTHERWISE, TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO SUPPORT ME IN THIS EFFORT. IT’S ALSO CHANCE TO CHANGE THE PUBLIC OPINION OF THE PRESS AND OUR SPORT, AS WELL AS DOING SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR WORLD.
Together we may be able to find a cure for this dread disease and result in a knockout win for the sport of boxing. Here’s a wonderful chance for you to enjoy a good read for a great cause.
“The sale of any or all of these very enjoyable books will help an important cause (breast cancer research). I personally ask everyone, if they do nothing else, to pass this information along the social networks you use
Please take note that my next book will be about “MIRACLES” PERSONAL, OR OTHERWISE, and I would appreciate any submissions you may deem worthy. Of course your privacy (names) can and will be withheld by request.
I now have some time to try to finish this latest work, which, God willing, will bring the world so much closer to finding a cure for cancer. Please send me your miracles at rustyrubin@sbcglobal.net
Finally, “My 2012 New Year’s resolution was to spend the rest of my life helping others, and I really need everyone’s help to do that.. Please get in the ring with me to add power to all the voices that are crying out for a cure to dread diseases.
Keep punching, always….Rusty